Mirror readers' Budget: 'We want a budget to work'

We speak to ordinary people about what they want from George Osborne's Budget statement today

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Fuel plea: Ron and Sue Green manage on less than £250 a week

Charities hope the Chancellor won’t hit the most vulnerable any harder in his Budget today.

They want George Osborne to show he understands the pressures on ordinary people and to do what he keeps preaching — make work pay.

Citizens Advice chief executive Gillian Guy says: “Day in, day out we are seeing people really worried about how they are going to keep a roof over their heads.

“They worry about how they are going to heat their homes and put food on the table as the cost of living continues to soar while incomes are squeezed. We support making work pay. Raising the personal tax threshold could help, but only if people keep all the money they gain.

“As things stand, low-paid working ­families who get housing and council tax benefits would not get all of the money in their pocket because as their income goes up, benefits go down.”

The combined impact of benefit cuts and big changes in the welfare system will hit a lot of families over and over again.

Changes to council tax benefit mean a lot of people on the very lowest incomes will have to pay council tax for the first time from next month. The bedroom tax — also coming in next month — will hit seriously ill and disabled people who can’t share a room, as well as ­separated parents who have their children to stay some nights a week.

Capping benefit increases to 1% for the next three years will ­effectively mean a cut in income for a lot of low-paid working families already squeezed by wage freezes and cuts in working hours while bills on everyday essentials keep rising.

Mirror readers are worried about their fate after today’s Budget. We chatted to four readers about their concerns and hopes.

The pensioners - 'We can't buy treats'

Ron and Sue Green have to manage on less than £250 a week. They own their home in Thetford, Norfolk so, luckily, don’t have to worry about rent.

The couple Ron, 80, and Sue, 69, say they are just managing financially – but only if they shop around and watch every penny.

Sue says: “Pension incomes simply aren’t keeping up with the cost of everything.

“We can make ends meet for the essentials but treats have gone out of the window as petrol, food and energy bills keep on rising. We find it difficult to come up with the cash for ­unexpected bills such as a trip to the dentist which cost more than £450 for Ron recently.

“I’d like to see petrol prices going down.

“The amount of tax we pay on it is just ridiculous and energy prices are too high – surely the Government can get tougher on these firms earning vast profits.

“We feel that after both working hard all our lives we should be able to enjoy a comfortable ­retirement without having to worry about how to pay our bills.”

The unemployed graduate - 'I'm getting nowhere fast'

Henry Turner, 21, is angry there are simply no prospects or help for graduates. He finished university last year and despite having his English degree he’s struggling to find a job. The only sniff of work he has found is odd days labouring on building sites.

Henry, from Lancaster, says: “The Government push young people to go to university, probably to help keep the dole queues down for a bit longer, and then leave them high and dry when they graduate.

“There is nothing for graduates at the Job Centre, all the jobs need experience and internships are no good for most graduates as you need to earn to be able to live. I haven’t signed on as I would only get around £60 a week and I wouldn’t be able to do the odd days work I’m finding, which mean I can earn a little more and it gives me experience and skills from the real world of work, something to put on my CV.

“I thought I’d done all the right things and got a better education so I had the chance of a better job. But I’m beginning to question things. It’s the same for all my uni mates. Even those who have jobs are not doing what they expected.

“The Government should be creating opportunities rather than all this cutting and slashing.”

The single mum - 'I've got debts on credit card'

Juggle: Helen with Tom and Mia

Helen says: “I’m already just over £70 a week worse off than I was this time last year as the bit of help I get with tax credits has gone down and my mortgage, petrol and other bills have gone up. I’m left with around £90 each week to cover everything from food to clothing, school trips and day to day living expenses.

“I run out of cash each month and exist by shifting debt from one credit card to another. I pay a small amount off each month, but often that is less than the amount I have had to add to the card just to get by.

“It scares me that I’m building up debt but I don’t have any other option and will have to deal with it later when I can work longer hours and, hopefully, earn more.

“I’m in a catch 22 - trying to raise my kids and give them a decent childhood and be there for them so only work part-time but I end up unable to afford to live unless I build up debt.

“I then cannot afford to work full time as childcare costs would be crippling and I’d have to earn a huge amount more just to cover those costs and still would be no better off.

“ I feel like I’m stuck in a circle. I am criticised by the Government for being a lone parent, as that makes me a less effective mother and my children will suffer into their adulthood because of it. They push family values, wanting parents to take on more responsibility for the care of/raising their children and so I work part-time to ensure I am there for the children before and after school.

“All I’m trying is to be a good Mum, be a good role model for my kids and show them that you have to work to afford the things you want and pay your way.

“The Government say they will make work pay but all they seem to be doing is hitting people like me. Surely helping me with top up benefits is better than paying for everything? I did an online benefits calculator recently and, if I wasn’t working, I’d end up with exactly the same money as I have now. That is absolute madness. The Government’s figures just don’t add up.

“The best I can hope for from the Budget is that the bit of benefits help I get isn’t reduced and that diesel costs go down.”

The average earners - 'Our pay fell behind our costs'

East News Press Agency

Struggle: Russell Kennedy works full time and his wife works part time

Russell Kennedy works full time for soft drinks firm Britvic and wife Karen works part time. They earn £30,000 between them.

The couple, both 45, live with their two children, Oliver, 17, and George, 14, in Chelmsford, Essex.

They receive child benefit, child tax credit and ­disability living allowance for Oliver, who has learning ­difficulties, and they are worried this might get taken away.

Russell says: “We are not poverty stricken but are just hanging on and managing to juggle our finances and keep it all going.

“Our disposable income has dropped dramatically as pay rises don’t keep up with rising costs, bonuses have gone and prices for the basics keep shooting up.

“It’s make do and mend and not as many family treats. And any more cuts would make it difficult to make ends meet.

“My genuine concern is for the future of my son.

“It’s shameful the Government is picking on the most vulnerable with cuts to benefits that are vital for those most in need. We have a prime minister who should understand the needs and feelings of those with children with learning difficulties. He should be ashamed of himself.”